Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 15, 2025
"Eméla," I said to myself, in vexation, "why did you not cast yourself on the bayonets, or present your heart to the grapeshot. That had been best for you." Zourine gave me leave. A few days later I should have been in the bosom of my family, when an unforeseen thunderbolt struck me.
I jumped up the steps the sentinels had not time to stop me and burst into the room where six hussar officers were playing faro. The Major kept the bank. I instantly recognized the Major as Ivan Zourine, who had so thoroughly emptied my purse at Simbirsk. "Is it possible? is this you Ivan Zourine?" "Halloo! Peter; what luck? where are you from? will you take a chance?"
Zourine laughed, and said, shrugging his shoulders "Wait a bit, wait till you be married; you'll see all go to the devil then." And I must confess a strange feeling embittered my joy. The recollection of the man covered with the blood of so many innocent victims, and the thought of the punishment awaiting him, never left me any peace.
I said to Zourine; "of what gossip of Pugatchéf's are you speaking? It is the daughter of Captain Mironoff. I have delivered her from captivity, and I am taking her now to my father's house, where I shall leave her." "What? So it's you whom they came to announce a while ago? In heaven's name, what does all this mean?" "I'll tell you all about it presently.
"I will tell you everything later; first go and see this poor girl, whom your soldiers have horribly frightened." Zourine went out into the street to excuse himself to Marie, and explain the mistake, and ordered the officer to place her and her maid in the best house in the city. I stayed with him. After supper, as soon as we were alone, I gave him the story of my adventures. He shook his head.
But Pugatchéf had not been taken; he reappeared very soon in the mining country of the Ural, on the Siberian frontier. He reassembled new bands, and again began his robberies. We soon learnt the destruction of Siberian forts, then the fall of Khasan, and the audacious march of the usurper on Moscow. Zourine received orders to cross the River Volga. I shall not stay to relate the events of the war.
"Read what I have just received." It was a secret dispatch, addressed to all Commanders of detachments, ordering them to arrest me wherever I should be found, and to send me under a strong escort to Khasan, to the Commission of Inquiry appointed to try Pugatchéf and his accomplices. The paper dropped from my hands. "Come," said Zourine, "it is my duty to execute the order.
We supped together, and as soon as I found myself alone with Zourine, I told him all my adventures. He heard me with great attention, and when I had done, shaking his head "All that's very well, brother," said he, "but one thing is not well. Why the devil do you want to marry? As an honest officer, as a good fellow, I would not deceive you. Believe me, I implore you, marriage is but a folly.
At this moment a little boy came in, who brought me a note from Zourine. I unfolded it and read as follows: "Oblige me by sending by bearer the hundred roubles you lost to me yesterday. I want money dreadfully. "Your devoted There was nothing for it. I assumed a look of indifference, and, addressing myself to Savéliitch, I bid him hand over a hundred roubles to the little boy.
Savéliitch looked at me with a deep expression of sorrow, and went to fetch my money. I was sorry for the poor old man, but I wished to assert myself, and prove that I was not a child. Zourine got his hundred roubles. Savéliitch was in haste to get me away from this unlucky inn; he came in telling me the horses were harnessed.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking